Texas Navy Veteran Memorizes Names of 2,200 Slain Military Members

"It was just so personal," White said. "When I wrote out 'Private First Class Austin Staggs,' I was so emotional my hand was shaking."

He said that scene replayed itself again later in the day when a man arrived and said he'd heard about what White was doing on the radio and came to the wall to see his son's name.

White plans to travel with the project around the country, doing the same thing in other cities. He wants to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that helps wounded service members adjust to civilian life, and he encourages people to donate to the group.

"It was such an emotional day, and it was my way of paying respect to these men and their families, letting them know that, yes, the world has gone on and that's why this sacrifice was made, so the world could go on, but I haven't forgotten," said White.